Race Recap: Hamlin narrows Johnson's lead with win at Martinsville
October 24, 2010

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Dead heat.

Well, almost.

Denny Hamlin won Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville and trimmed
fifth-place finisher Jimmie Johnson's lead in the Chase for the NASCAR
Sprint Cup to six points with four races left in the season.

The closest Chase ever through six races is on a collision course toward
next Sunday's AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, the most
dangerous and unpredictable race in the Chase.

"We're back, baby," Hamlin exulted in the radio as he approached the finish
line. "Awesome job."

Hamlin showed his appreciation where it was well-deserved. Crew chief Mike
Ford and his over-the-wall crew gained three spots for their driver during
their final pit stop, before a restart on Lap 394. Hamlin was third off pit
road and fourth overvall (because Ken Schrader stayed out) when he took the
green flag.

"I love you, Mike. Great job of adjusting the car," Hamlin radioed when the
race was over. "Best it's been all day. Awesome job. Pit crew, you did it
right there. You got me out. Thank you, guys."

Kevin Harvick, third in the standings, stayed within striking distance with
a third-place run at the .526-mile short track, as the top three drivers
continued to separate themselves from the rest of the Chase field. Harvick
gained 15 points on Johnson and is 62 behind the four-time defending
champion.

Hamlin could have a yard sale on grandfather clocks, after winning the
distinctive Martinsville trophy for the fourth time and third in a row. The
victory was Hamlin's series-best seventh of the season and the 15th of his
career.

"Who said it was over?" Hamlin said of the Chase. "I told you it wasn't
over."

Mark Martin rallied from a lap down to finish second, followed by Harvick,
Kyle Busch and Johnson. Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff
Burton and Brad Keselowski completed the top 10.

Harvick, who has had issues on pit road during the Chase, swapped pit crews
with teammate Clint Bowyer earlier this week. Bowyer's crew performed
flawlessly, and after the race, Harvick offered to kiss his teammate as an
expression of gratitude.

"Coming into this race, no one gave us a chance to even run anywhere towards
the front," said Harvick, who posted his first top-five finish in 19 starts
at Martinsville. "So it's nice to come here, get the finishes we feel like
we deserve. We've run well over the last few years -- just hadn't got the
finishes to show for it.

"Great day for us. Everybody did a great job on pit road and in the pits,
doing everything they had to do to keep the car up front."

Earnhardt briefly gave Junior Nation something to cheer about. Before
Earnhardt restarted third on Lap 247, crew chief Chad Knaus radioed to
Johnson, "If you hear a great scream and roar (inside) the car, you'll know
that Dale took the lead in the race."

Knaus didn't have to be a prophet to predict that. When Earnhardt passed
Jeff Gordon for the top spot on Lap 285, the crowd stood en masse and
cheered lustily. Earnhardt held the lead for 90 laps, 19 more than he had
led previously this year, but his handling tightened up in the late going,
dropping him to seventh at the finish.

During prerace inspection, NASCAR required Johnson's crew to replace the
drive shaft cover on the No. 48 Chevrolet, a minor issue in the sanctioning
body's view, though the specific reason for the change wasn't stated. If
there is a penalty forthcoming, it will be announced during the coming week.

Johnson was unaware of the change.

"I have no idea what you're talking about -- no clue," he said after the race.
"Not my job, man."